By Emilio Frenk
Director: Bill Condon
Cast: Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Josh Gad, Kevin Kline, Ewan McGregor, Ian McKellen, Emma Thompson, Nathan Mack, Audra McDonald, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Stanley Tucci.
Rating: Excellent.
Bill Condon, director of “Dreamgirls”, “Gods and Monsters” and “Twilight: Breaking Dawn Parts 1 and 2” brings “Beauty and The Beast”, the remake of the 1991 film that made history on being the first animated feature film on being nominated for Best Picture. Like it´s predecessor the results of this one are pretty satisfying.
Based on the tale by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont, the movie takes place in France and tells the story of Belle (Emma Watson) a town girl that is a book lover and tries to enjoy her provincial life despite of everyone in town talks behind her back.
She will be spotted by Gaston (Luke Evans) a narcissist and war veteran who will try to win Belle´s heart at any cost.
One night her father Maurice (Kevin Kline) a painter is kidnapped by the beast and Belle will try to rescue him.
When she has that encounter she bargains with the beast to take his father´s place in the castle. This encounter will represent an opportunity for the beast to break the spell which he is cursed as well as the employees of the castle.
Now the Beast will try to win Belle´s heart so he can be human again at any costs before it´s too late.
One of the things that I liked of this version of “Beauty and The Beast” was the director Bill Condon respected the essence of the 1991 film and didn´t make a carbon copy.
The screenplay by both Stephen Chbosky and Evan Spiliotopoulous was written with so much wit and originality that it made it enjoyable. One of the elements that made this film successful was the fact that it was not redundant and we had the opportunity to see elements like the backstory of Belle´s mom and whatever happened to herand that made it interesting.
In the past I´ve been very critical towards Bill Condon´s work specially with movies like the last two Twilight Films of the saga that the acting was so ludicrous and the movie was all over the place. This time not only directed a very good movie but at the same time an enjoyable experience.
The score was again composed by Academy Award Alan Menken and it was such a delight to hear it like in the animated film.
The Production Design, Costumes and Visual Effects played a key part in this movie and there were very well made. Of course in a Disney movie that is one of the major requirements to have this elements previously mentioned.
Emma Watson´s performance as Belle is remarkable as well is for the rest of the cast like Academy Award Winner Kevin Kline who I have always enjoyed watching a performance by him and it´s a blessing to see him in the screen.
Bill Condon directed a winner here and without a doubt this is the most ambitious movie of his career as a filmmaker and I was very happy that he was loyal towards the tale and the animated feature film.
With that being said “Beauty and The Beast” is a delight for all the family and I give a huge recommendation to it.